Teen, 16, admits threatening to cut off Aled Jones’ arm in terrifying £17k Rolex robbery
A MACHETE-wielding teen has admitted threatening to cut off Aled Jones’ arm in a terrifying £17,000 Rolex robbery.
The Songs of Praise presenter, 52, was out with his son Lucas when he was targeted near their home in Chiswick, South West London.
The 16-year-old thug pulled out a large blade and repeatedly threatened Aled in a bid to steal the luxury timepiece.
Aled handed over the £17,000 Rolex Daytona watch rather than fight with the armed robbber.
The teen, who legally can’t be named, today pleaded guilty to robbery at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court.
He also admitted one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
Neither Aled or his son Lucas were in court today, with the teen due to be sentenced at a later date.
Prosecutor Robert Simpson said: “The complainant was walking with his son when he was approached by a youth in a black tracksuit.
“The defendant produced a knife in the form of a machete from his tracksuit bottoms and threatened to cut off his (Aled’s) arm.
“He made various other threats to obtain a Rolex watch.
“Mr Jones took off his watch and handed it over, then the defendant made off.”
Police managed to track the teen down after he was captured on CCTV leaving the scene.
He was arrested at home where cops found a machete that was the “same type used to facilitate the robbery.”
Aled’s son Lucas also managed to identify the teen boy after his arrest.
Walking in the Air singer Aled told The Sun he was left “shocked” and “shaken” by the alleged incident last month.
He handed over the £17,000 Rolex Daytona watch rather than fight with his robber.
His wife of 22 years, Claire — a circus trapeze artist — and the couple’s actress daughter Emilia, 21, were elsewhere at the time.
It is not known if the Rolex has been recovered or returned to Aled.
A source said: “They were out in a nice part of West London.
“Aled was totally shocked as it came out of nowhere and all happened so fast.
“The robber threatened him with the machete and demanded the Rolex. Luckily Aled was savvy enough not to put up fight for the watch while he was having a deadly weapon waved at him.
“The attacker had seen the Rolex and targeted him specifically.
“Although Aled was shaken afterwards, he was quite relieved.
“He was glad he and Lucas were not hurt and that they got home safely to the rest of their family.
“You can replace a watch and everyone realised it could have been a lot worse.”
Aled found fame aged just 14 when his version of Walking in the Air, from Christmas film The Snowman, reached No5 in 1985.
The singer, from Bangor, North Wales, sold six million records and sang in front of the Pope, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana by the time he was 16 and his voice broke.
Aled now presents BBC show Songs of Praise and hosts a morning radio show on Classic FM.
He was was made an MBE in 2013 for services to music and broadcasting and charitable services.